Sankranti 2026: Prabhas’ Toughest in Last 10 Years

For months, the makers of The Raja Saab held on to December 5, 2025, as their release date. After weeks of rumours and leaks, the suspense ended at the Mirai trailer launch. Producer Vishwa Prasad confirmed that Prabhas’s romantic fantasy drama will now release on January 9, 2026, for Sankranti. This also means that apart from his cameo in Kannappa, Prabhas will not have another release in 2025.

The shift has created a big clash at the box office. In Karnataka, Prabhas’s The Raja Saab will lock horns with Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan. In Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and overseas markets, Vijay’s film is likely to dominate, while Prabhas enjoys a stronger pull in North India.

The real challenge for Prabhas lies in Telugu states. He will be up against Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, directed by Anil Ravipudi. By January 14, The Raja Saab could also lose several theatres to other Sankranti releases if word of mouth is not strong.

On the promotions side, fans can expect big updates. Director Maruthi is planning two grand trailers. The first could arrive in October, possibly attached to Kantara: Chapter 1 screenings. The second is expected in December. Since the teaser was long and well-received, excitement for these trailers is high.

Sankranti 2026 is packed with heavyweights. Apart from Prabhas and Vijay, the line-up features Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, Anaganaga Oka Raju, and Ravi Teja’s 77th film. There is talk that some films may postpone to avoid the crowd. Buzz also suggests that if Akhanda 2 misses December, it could join the Sankranti race. Unlike his recent solo runs since Baahubali, Prabhas will face stiff competition this time.

With the release date finalised, fans of Prabhas are relieved. All attention is now on Sankranti 2026 to see how The Raja Saab performs amid one of the most crowded festive seasons in years.